A beloved indie classic receives a surprise update.

Cave Story may be over 21 years old, but a significant update for the Steam version of this iconic indie title has made it a great time to dive back in. This surprise patch brings a host of visual enhancements from the Nintendo Switch version of Cave Story+ to the PC edition, along with the addition of official mod support.

While Cave Story may not dominate the gaming conversation as it once did, its impact on the indie game scene is undeniable. Originally released for free online in 2004, it was one of the first indie games to go viral. Its impressive polish and unexpectedly rich narrative set a new standard for solo-developed games. Cave Story played a pivotal role in establishing indie gaming as a genre worth paying attention to, and it continues to captivate players more than two decades later.

Despite its enduring charm, the Steam version of Cave Story had been in need of updates for years. Known as Cave Story+, this version had seen little improvement since its 2011 launch, missing out on many enhancements introduced in the 2017 Nintendo Switch port. The 2026 update finally addresses this, introducing a two-player co-op mode, a range of visual upgrades including widescreen support, and mod support for the PC version.

If Cave Story+ has been gathering dust in your Steam library for over a decade, this substantial update makes it a perfect time to revisit it in 2026. The visual enhancements, gameplay adjustments, and new mod support elevate Cave Story+ on Steam to feel like the ultimate version of this indie classic.

The 2026 update for Cave Story+ will be available to everyone on Monday, April 13, but you can access it early by entering the code “ModPizzaParty” in the Game Versions & Betas submenu of its Steam Properties menu. The full patch notes for this update are listed below.